Well-Read Show at Water Street Studios This Month

Well-Read is a unique show created by Water Street Studios resident artist Rita Grendze.

Here is what she had to say about her show:

Last summer my husband and I discovered a slow leak in our basement, which of course meant dampness and mildew were an issue.

While most of our stored items were easily assessed for cleaning or disposal, we struggled with how to handle our damaged books: what to do with books we no longer wanted on our shelves, but couldn't quite let go? We cleaned and wiped, put them in the sun, used fans to dry out our beloved tomes.

Some, of course could not be saved, others came through good as new, but many were somewhere in between. Being an avid reader and a fan of the book as an object, I decided to manipulate the books that were seemingly in limbo into small art work.

The resulting pieces are kitschy holiday décor book angels. The discovery, however, is in the process, in the revelation of the inherent volume in a book's pages. From a domestic mishap, an idea was born: Well-read.

Imagine being in the stacks at your favorite library. Imagine the possibilities that are recorded between the pages of the books on those shelves: each book a story, each chapter an adventure, each page an experience! I invite all lovers of books to join me in creating an installation of cast-off books. This project explores the volume of the book, by folding, bending and stiffening its pages to enhance physical presence. Simultaneously, help promote literacy through public readings of literature and collection of children's books for donation to local organizations.

Rita will have her show from Aug. 1 to Aug. 19, 2012.